Device for charging liquids with gases.



J. H. BECKMAN. DEVICE FOR CHARGlNG LIQUIDS WlTH GASES APLlQATlON FILED FEB. 8, 915- I Patented May 16 1916.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB H. BECKMAN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

DEVICE FOR CHARGING- LIQUIDS WITH GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed February 8, 1915. Serial No. 6,691.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. JACOB H. BEGKMAN,

A a citizen of the United States of America,

and a resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and Stateof Washington,

which are now in use, by freeing them from objections which now apply to the former devices; particularly to improve on such devices by preventing the stoppage of the pores in the walls of the chamber.

In the device, as'herein shown, I have shown the form of construction which is now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the chamber, or the chamber into which the' gas is introduced, and through the pores in thewalls of which it passes into the liquid being charged with gas. Fig. 2 is an end view of the lower end of this chamber. Fig.

j 3 is a section on'line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4

is a section on line l4l of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through a cask or tank within which this device is shown in use.

In the course of manufacture or treating of various liquids, they are put through a process designed to charge them with a gas. The gas most commonly used is carbonic acid gas, in which case the process is a carbonating process. As this carbonating process is typicalof all general classes, I will refer to such process as a carbonating process, although it is evident that the apparatus herein shown and the advantages obtained thereby, will apply as well to charging liquids with other gases. As one of the liquids, which will be widely employed for this purpose, is beer, I will describe my process particularly in its application to the carbonating of beer, it being understood that the process is not limited to this particular product.

One form of apparatus which is used in carbonating beer, consists of a chamber, usually in the form of a cylinder, as the cylinder 1 of Fig. 1, which cylinder is composed of a porous material through the pores of which gas may pass without excessive resistance. This cylinder is closed at the ends and im mersed in the liquid being charged, a tube being connected with oneend of such cylinder, through which gas under a pressure, which in some cases may be very slight, is supplied to said cylinder. The gas gradually escaping through the pores of the cyllnder is discharged into the beer, or other liquid, as a seriesof minute bubbles. The gas 1s thus brought into contact with the liquidlin such manner as to secure the most effective results.

In using devices of this character, it has been found that, where, as is often the custom, the device isimmersed within the liquid before the supply of gas thereto, the liquid passes from without into said cylinder, the walls of which act as a filter and retains within its pores whatever of solid or gummy matter may be contained in the solution, whether this be simply suspended therein or more, nearly in the form of a solution. By reason of this fact the pores of the wall become clogged, thus reducing the rate of passage of the gas therethrough, and in some I cases necessitating much higher pressure in the gas; In addition to this, if the chamber is filled with liquid, this liquid'mu'st be expelled before the normal gaseous conducting capacity has been restored, and as the flow of liquid through such porous material is relatively slow, it is some time before the device can work to its proper normal .capacity.

To avo1d the above difliculties, I have 1 0:

vided the chamber with a port or ports,

forming passages for the ingress and egress.

of liquids. These ports are preferably lo- .cated at the extreme lower part of the chamber and a valve, or valves, provided which may close said ports against outward flow of the gas, but which will be maintained open until the liquid, which may have entered the chamber, has been expelled.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a section of a tube which is formed of porous material, such for instance, as unglazed earthen ware, through the pores of which gasmay pass from the chamber into the liquid, into which it is immersed. The particular shape of chamber shown lends itself best for the particular use for which it is intended, although, except as a matter of convenience in use, the shape is not essential. One end of this chamber, that which ordinarily would be the uppermost one 111 use, is closed by a cap 2. The tightness of i a hose may be readily secured thereto. Such hose connects the chamber with the source of supply of gas. The other head 3 is similarly secured to the end of the cylinder 1 and is provided with one or more ports 31, through which liquid may pass between the exterior and interior of the chamber. This cap is provided with a.central hole, through which passes a rod 4 which is screw-threaded or otherwise secured in the cap 2, and whlch has the end, which projects beyond the cap 3, threaded to receive a clamping nut 40. Preferably, the walls surrounding the ports 31, which are intended to serve as valve seats, extend inward 'from the inner seat of the cap so as to form ring shaped valve seats, against which the floatable valve 5 may seat. I

The valve 5 is made of any material found suitable for this purpose. It should have sufiicient flotation so that it will rise when the liquid is admitted to the cham-' ber and fall as the liquid falls, so as to eventually be seated upon the valve. seats surrounding the ports 31. Thls valve, n

the construction shown, has a central hole through which the clampin rod 4 passes. The fit of the valve about this rod and also J within the cylinder 1 should be sufliciently loose that its movements will not be hampered by friction.

When this device is inserted within a liquid, the first result is that the liquid enters through the ports 31 and fills the chamber. It remains in this condition until gas has been admitted of suflicient pressure to expel the liquid. As the ports 31 are at this time freely open, it requires but slight pressure to expel the liquid. As soon as the liquid has been expelled, the valve seats upon the margins of the ports and thereafter the gas escapes through the pores of the walls. r

In using this construction there is no tendency to clog the pores of the walls with sediment, and therefore, the device may begin working at its full capacity immediately after the gas pressure has been turned on. As ports are provided through which liquid may freely enter the chamber, and may be as freely expelled, it is not necesgh the pores possible to use its as long as it iquid ports and the asvherein shown. While I have shown the form of construction which is preferred by me, it is evident that this form may be widely varied without essentially altering the principle of the device.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new. and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States ofAmerica,

the liquidlevel within the chamber is lowered.

3. A gas charging device for liquids comprising a porous-walled chamber having a gas supply connection and a liquid-passing port located in the lower part thereof, a floatable valve in said chamber and. means for guiding said valve into position to rest upon and close said port as the liquid level falls in the chamber.

4. A gas charging device for liquids comprising a chamber having porous walls and a liquid-passing port in its lower part, a gas supply connection with said chamber, a valve adapted to be actuated to close said port by the lowering of the level of liquid within said chamber. 5. A gas charging device for liquids comprising a porous walled chamber having a gas supply connection and a liquid-passing port freely opening for the inward passage of liquid, and a valve adaptedto close said port against outward flow of gas, said valve being controlled by the level of liquid within said chamber..

6. A gas charging device for liquids comprising a chamber having porous walls and provided with gas supply connections and having a liquid-passing port at its lower part, a floatable valve within said chamber and a bar for guiding said valve into position for closing said port as the valve is lowered by lowering of the liquid level within the chamber.

7. A gas charging device for liquids comprising a porous-walled chamber having gas supply connections and a liquid-passing port located at its lower part and having elevated 15 prising a narrow seats, a .fioatable valve within said chamber, and means for guiding said valve into position upon said seats when the liquid level wit in the chamber is lowered through the expuflsion'of the liquid by the gas.

8. A gas charging device for liquids comprising a porous Walled chamber having a gas supply connection, a liquid port opening at the lower part of said chamber and an inwardly opening valve controlling said port, and means controlled by the liquid level within the chamber for controlling the position of said valve.

9. A gas charging device for liquids comporous walled cylinder, a cap for one end of said cylinder having exterior means for attachment of a gas supply pipe Zand ports communicating from said pipe JACOB H. BEGKMAN.

Witnesses GEO. W. WECHTEL,

RUSSELL FLETT.

Cali, gthis 29th 30 

